The Spice Trail facts for kids

The Spice Trail is a British TV show that first aired in 2011 on BBC Two. It's a Documentary series all about the amazing world of spices. The show explores how spices were discovered and their long history.

The presenter, Kate Humble, travels around the world. She visits places where spices are grown and made. Kate learns how different spices are produced. She also shares cool stories and talks to people from these areas. The series shows how local communities depend on spices for their living. It also looks at challenges like plant diseases or fake products.

Episodes of The Spice Trail

Episode One: Pepper and Cinnamon

This episode takes us on a journey to discover two popular spices.

The Story of Pepper

In the first part, we visit India to learn about Black pepper. We find out that black pepper corns are usually dried in the sun. Did you know that white pepper is made differently? It's soaked and its outer skin is removed to make it milder. Green pepper is also mentioned.

We see how pepper corns are separated from the plant. Sometimes, people use their feet to do this! The show also highlights how plant diseases have affected pepper farms. These farms were once major producers. We also see a unique way buyers and sellers agree on prices. They use their hands under a cloth to negotiate without speaking.

The Secret of Cinnamon

The second part of the episode explores Cinnamon in Sri Lanka. We see small cinnamon trees being cut down. The outer bark is carefully scraped off by hand. Then, the inner bark is removed with a knife.

The best parts of the inner bark are used to create an outer layer. Other pieces are placed inside this layer. These layers are joined together to form a standard stick. This stick is called a quill. The quills are rolled every day as they dry. Finally, they are tied into bundles for trading and shipping.

Episode Two: Nutmeg and Cloves

This program takes us to the Maluku Islands, also known as the Spice Islands. These islands in Indonesia are where nutmeg and Cloves originally came from.

Discovering Nutmeg

First, we explore nutmeg. It's a spice with many layers! The outer fruit can be used to make jam. When the fruit is ripe, it opens up. This reveals a red nut inside, which is the best time to pick it. Sometimes, the fruit is cut open early.

The outer red skin of the nut is removed and dried. This part becomes mace, another spice. The inner black shell is then taken off and thrown away. What's left is the hard brown "nut" we all know as nutmeg. We also learn that Almond trees are important for shade. A type of Dove helps plant many almond and nutmeg trees.

Harvesting Cloves

The second part of the show focuses on cloves. We see the pink flower buds growing on tall trees. The best cloves are pink and haven't opened yet. Pickers use long poles, ropes, and even climb trees to collect the buds.

Back on the ground, individual cloves are snapped off from the bud clusters. They are then dried in the sun, often right in the streets. The rest of the bud cluster, like stalks and small leaves, can be used as an additive for Tobacco. Kate even tries to make a Herbal cigarette in the show!

Episode Three: Vanilla and Saffron

This episode uncovers the stories of two very valuable spices.

The Golden Spice: Saffron

In the first half, we learn about Saffron. We visit the Berbers in Morocco, where saffron originated. We see beautiful purple Crocus flowers growing in what looks like a desert. The fields are watered using channels dug into the ground. Sheep dung is carried by the water to fertilize the plants.

The saffron harvest lasts for about a month. The flowers are picked early each morning. Each bulb produces four flowers per season. During the day, the red Stamens are carefully removed. This is a social event, involving almost everyone in the village. The stamens are then dried. We learn that the deeper the red color, the better the saffron quality. Handling the flowers can turn fingers purple! The people in this area are very generous with their saffron. They use it in drinks and many different dishes.

The program then moves to Spain. This country became a major saffron trading center after being influenced by Muslim culture. Saffron from all over the world is now brought and traded there. Because saffron is so expensive, it's often mixed with other things. These can include turmeric, parts of other plants, or even plastic. We visit a laboratory that uses DNA testing and spectrum analysis. They work to keep saffron high quality and protect it from fake products. This helps maintain the value of real saffron.

The Sweetness of Vanilla

In the second half, we discover that Vanilla is a Mexican spice. The natural Pollination of vanilla flowers is done by a special bee called the Melipona bee. This bee is only found in Mexico. For a long time, vanilla couldn't be grown anywhere else in the world.

However, a slave boy later discovered how to self-pollinate the vanilla plants by hand. Once this artificial pollination method was found, the price of vanilla dropped. The vanilla trade in Mexico is now much smaller than it used to be. We learn that vanilla is a type of Orchid but also a vine. We see a vanilla flower being hand-pollinated. These flowers are only open for a few hours! It takes nine months for the pods to grow. Then, it takes another nine months for them to dry and be ready. The best vanilla pods often have tiny crystals on them.

Reviews of The Spice Trail

Most people who reviewed The Spice Trail found Kate Humble to be very enthusiastic and genuine. Many reviewers liked the show. However, some found the show a bit repetitive. A few even thought Kate seemed a little bit bossy.

The Guardian newspaper found the show "interesting" but also repetitive. The Independent newspaper really liked Kate. They found her very enthusiastic and compared her to a "head girl." They said everyone involved in the show seemed truly interested. This made the show very enjoyable to watch. The Mirror had a balanced view. They called Kate enthusiastic in her efforts to connect with local people. They also found her sincere when she pointed out obvious things. Metro focused on the problems faced by the spice growers. They thought Kate seemed a bit bossy and mentioned a style of reporting similar to the show Blue Peter. The Express gave a simple description of the show. They even made it one of their "picks of the day."